Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Song Yadong
UFC Fight Night · August 29, 2026 · SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center · Main Card 6:00 AM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Wrestler vs. Counterstriker
- Finish likelihood
- Medium
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Bantamweight · Main event
The read
Nurmagomedov is the safer bet to win rounds, and rounds are usually enough against him.
His volume, accuracy and takedown defense make him hard to hurt and even harder to shake once he is attached to a leg or a body lock, and he has never lost a round by a wide margin in his UFC career. Song's counters and hand speed give him a puncher's chance in the pocket, especially early, and he has already shown in 2026 that he can finish a former champion when the opening appears.
Lean Nurmagomedov by decision or clinch-heavy stoppage, with a Song knockout as the live alternate outcome.
The matchup
Umar Nurmagomedov's wrestling should be the deciding factor in this bantamweight main event.
He lands 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes at a 79 percent takedown defense rate, a brutal pairing against Song's 73 percent takedown defense and largely stationary boxing. Song counters with legitimate one-punch power and proved in May he can still finish elite competition, choking out Deiveson Figueiredo just months after a decision loss to Sean O'Malley.
The fight likely comes down to whether Song can land clean before Umar's chain wrestling and cage control take over.
Tale of the tape
| 20-1-0 | Record | 23-9-1 |
| 30 | Age | 28 |
| 5'8" | Height | 5'8" |
| 69" | Reach | 67" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| Russia | Country | China |
| American Kickboxing Academy | Team | Team Alpha Male |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Umar Nurmagomedov 20-1-0
Cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov and one of the most complete fighters at 135, with his only career loss a decision to Merab Dvalishvili in a title fight at UFC 311. He blends Dagestani wrestling with accurate striking and absorbs under two significant strikes a minute, the profile of a fighter who rarely loses moments. He rebuilt with wins over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo and now headlines in Shanghai against Song Yadong.
- WDeiveson Figueiredo · Decision (unanimous)UFC 324 · January 24, 2026
- WMario Bautista · Decision (unanimous)UFC 321 · October 25, 2025
- LMerab Dvalishvili · Decision (unanimous)UFC 311 · January 18, 2025
Song Yadong 23-9-1
“The Kung Fu Kid”
Song Yadong fights out of Sacramento's Team Alpha Male and is still just 28 despite 33 professional fights, with a record that also includes one no contest. A fast-handed counterpuncher with real knockout power, he answered a decision loss to Sean O'Malley by choking out former champion Deiveson Figueiredo in a May 2026 main event. He returns to fight in front of a home Chinese crowd against the biggest name of his career.
- WDeiveson Figueiredo · Submission (guillotine choke)UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo · May 30, 2026
- LSean O'Malley · Decision (unanimous)UFC 324 · January 24, 2026
- WHenry Cejudo · Technical decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song · February 22, 2025